Method for matching hearing aids binaurally

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for matching binaurally the transmission characteristics of a consisting of hearing-aid portions ( 4,5 ) one for the left and the other for the right ear, using a data processing apparatus ( 1 ) connectable to a pointer device ( 3 ) and a display unit ( 2 ), the pointer device ( 3 ) being used to change parameters of the transmission characteristics. The method of the invention is characterized in the the parameters of one of the hearing-aid portions ( 4, 5 ) can be adjusted just as well independently of the parameters of the other hearing-aid portion ( 5, 4 ) as in that the parameters of both hearing-aid portions ( 4,5 ) can be adjusted simultaneously.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method to binaurally match transmission characteristics of a hearing-aid portion ( 4 ) for a left ear with transmission characteristics of a hearing-aid portion ( 5 ) for a right ear, said method using a data processing apparatus ( 1 ) connectable to a pointer device ( 3 ) and to a display unit ( 2 ), the pointer device ( 3 ) being used to change parameters of the transmission characteristics, wherein parameters of one of the hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) can be adjusted independently of the parameters of the other hearing-aid portion ( 5 ,  4 ) and wherein the parameters of both hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) can be adjusted simultaneously. 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, when mutually corresponding parameter values are adjusted, a differential of the corresponding parameter values remains constant. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in either of claims  1  and  2 , wherein the parameters are adjustable by means of scroll bars ( 11  . . .  16 ) shown on the display unit ( 2 ), said scroll bars consisting of at least one scroll box ( 18 , BL, BR) movable between switching surfaces ( 19 ,  20 , G, K), an instantaneous distance between the scroll box ( 18 , BL, BR) and the switching surfaces ( 19 ,  20 , G, K) representing the differential between an instantaneous parameter value and a minimum or maximum value, a parameter of one hearing-aid portion ( 4 ,  5 ) being adjusted between the scroll box ( 18 , BL, BR) and one of the switching surfaces ( 19 ,  20 , G, K), by one of: dragging the corresponding scroll box ( 18 , BL, BR) using the pointer device ( 3 ) and clicking. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the scroll box ( 18 ) is split into two parts (BL, BR) of which one part (BL) is used to adjust a parameter of one of the hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) and the other part (BR) is used to adjust the corresponding parameter of the other hearing-aid portion ( 5 ,  4 ), and in that simultaneous adjustment of the parameters of the two hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) is implemented by means of the switching surfaces (G, K). 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein one of the instantaneous absolute value or the instantaneous relative value computed in relation to a reference value of a scroll bar ( 11  . . . ,  16 ) is numerically displayed in the region of the scroll bar ( 11  . . . ,  16 ). 
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein particular effective transmission characteristics of the hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) are graphically displayed in graph windows ( 7 , . . . ,  10 ). 
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a desired transmission characteristic for at least one of the hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) is displayed on the display unit ( 2 ), said desired characteristic preferably being displayed in the same graph window ( 7 , . . . ,  10 ) as the effective particular transmission characteristic. 
     
     
       8. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjusted parameters are transmitted from the data processing apparatus ( 1 ) to the hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ). 
     
     
       9. A method to binaurally match transmission characteristics of both a hearing-aid portion ( 4 ) for a left ear and a hearing-aid portion ( 5 ) for a right ear, to a patient audiogram, said method using a data processing apparatus ( 1 ) connectable to a pointer device ( 3 ) and to a display unit ( 2 ), the pointer device ( 3 ) being used to change parameters of the transmission characteristics, wherein parameters of one of the hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) can be adjusted independently of the parameters of the other hearing-aid portion ( 5 ,  4 ) and wherein the parameters of both hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) can be adjusted simultaneously. 
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein, when mutually corresponding parameter values are adjusted, a differential of the corresponding parameter values remains constant. 
     
     
       11. The method as claimed in either of claims  9  and  10 , wherein the parameters are adjustable by means of scroll bars ( 11  . . .  16 ) shown on the display unit ( 2 ), said scroll bars consisting of at least one scroll box ( 18 , BL, BR) movable between switching surfaces ( 19 ,  20 , G, K), an instantaneous distance between the scroll box ( 18 , BL, BR) and the switching surfaces ( 19 ,  20 , G, K) representing the differential between an instantaneous parameter value and a minimum or maximum value, a parameter of one hearing-aid portion ( 4 ,  5 ) being adjusted between the scroll box ( 18 , BL, BR) and one of the switching surfaces ( 19 ,  20 , G, K), by one of: dragging the corresponding scroll box ( 18 , BL, BR) using the pointer device ( 3 ) and clicking. 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the scroll box ( 18 ) is split into two parts (BL, BR) of which one part (BL) is used to adjust a parameter of one of the hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) and the other part (BR) is used to adjust the corresponding parameter of the other hearing-aid portion ( 5 ,  4 ), and in that simultaneous adjustment of the parameters of the two hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) is implemented by means of the switching surfaces (G, K). 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein one of the instantaneous absolute value or the instantaneous relative value computed in relation to a reference value of a scroll bar ( 11 , . . . ,  16 ) is numerically displayed in the region of the scroll bar ( 11 , . . . ,  16 ). 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein particular effective transmission characteristics of the hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) are graphically displayed in graph windows ( 7 , . . . ,  10 ). 
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a desired transmission characteristic for at least one of the hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ) is displayed on the display unit ( 2 ), said desired characteristic preferably being displayed in the same graph window ( 7 , . . . ,  10 ) as the effective particular transmission characteristic. 
     
     
       16. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the adjusted parameters are transmitted from the data processing apparatus ( 1 ) to the hearing-aid portions ( 4 ,  5 ).